annais min was the god among mortals, the death that came along with life. now more than ever, she knew the cost of her existence, of what hades had done when he chose to pursue her mother. everything came down to her and the four other min girls, t...
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CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE CUT
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"MUFFINS." CAL THE BOREAD was just as dim-witted as Annais remembered him to be. Clad in his unfortunately familiar cleats, sweatpants and hockey jersey, he seemed out of place beside Khione and Zethes. His dark eyes were wide as he stared at the pile of muffins. Annais wondered if he'd be tempted to eat one and hoped to Hades that Piper would've thought to poison them or something, anything that might lend them a chance. "Muffins are good."
"They are," Annais nodded. "I, personally, love my muffins with a strong dose of cyanide. Really enhances the flavour. You should try it sometime."
Cal, much to the displeasure of his siblings, nodded like he was genuinely going to take her advice to heart. He frowned when Khione snarled at him, roaring in a spray of spit, "You fool! The daughter of Hades is trying to kill you."
Annais smiled and waved at Cal, who looked at her with a betrayed pout. "It's my specialty," she said. Despite the alarms ringing warning bells in her head, she added without thinking, "Ask your sister."
Khione's eyes blazed with the fire she so detested. She looked ready to strike Annais where she stood, and yet she hesitated. Annais plastered on a smirk. This told her enough about Khione's unwelcome presence. She'd come for a reason, a reason that needed Piper -- and Annais, should she manage to keep her mouth shut -- alive for the time being. Even Jason wasn't dead, from what Annais could make out in his features encased in ice. They just needed time.
And who better to distract than Zethes? While he was far more intelligent than his brother, he lacked an understanding of social settings. Annais had seen it before. He was so self-absorbed that he wouldn't know a sword until it was buried in his chest. Even then, he was beaming at Piper's display with the muffins like he believed it was a ploy just to get his attention.
"I knew the pretty girl would miss me," he wriggled his eyebrows at Annais, despite speaking in French that only Piper could understand.
"Zethes, don't be rude." Annais was immediately caught off guard when Khione set her sights on her. The Goddess' onyx eyes seemed to stare right through Annais' soul, teeth bared to consume the rot of Hades like a moth to a flame. She gripped her bronze blade like she longed to cut Annais' head from her neck, just like Ezra had done to her in the Wolf House. Annais tried not to show the anxiety that settled in her gut, holding her head high, never once letting her gaze waver. "Not everyone can speak French. We must be mindful of that."
"You're right, sister." It was Zethes' turn to regard Annais. "My apologies, pretty girl. I'm sure you missed me too."
Like a koala misses chlamydia, she thought wryly, but she was smart enough to keep that to herself. Fortunately, Piper gave her a reason not to reply.
